443 dead in Brazil floods

Rescue workers dug desperately for survivors on Thursday and struggled to reach areas cut off by floods and landslides that have killed at least 443 people in one of Brazil’s deadliest natural disasters in decades.

Torrents of mud and water set off by heavy rains left a trail of destruction through the mountainous Serrana region near the city of Rio de Janeiro, toppling houses, buckling roads and burying entire families as they slept.

“It’s like an earthquake struck some areas,” said Jorge Mario, the mayor of Teresopolis, where 185 people were killed and scores more were feared dead.